Wednesday, 12 November 2008

If your boss wants to axe you...

Seems like Development Bank of Singapore (“DBS”) has taken the lead in wielding the axe. Last Friday, it was reported the DBS Group is cutting 900 jobs in an effort to control escalating costs in the light of the current economic crisis. With so many investment banks in Singapore, such trend is expected to continue.

Just today, I was told via an e-mail that a particular Big-4 accounting firm in Hong Kong will be lining up similar fate for their non-performer. It is expected that such activities will begin to pick up pace this month as I was told job-cutting usually will not take place in December due to Christmas. Talk about empathy…

What about Malaysia then? Are you afraid that you will lose your job?

If you look at this side of Asia, one would consider that Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia are somewhat the financial hubs. Of course, Malaysia is very far away compared to the former 2 with Shanghai not too far behind. This would mean that a lot of big multinational corporations have operations in HK, Singapore and Malaysia.

Now, if such corporations want to cut jobs, I think they will attack HK and Singapore first and probably spare Malaysia. Why?

Say you have a senior finance manager in the Malaysian operating unit, his pay is probably RM10,000? A similar position in Singapore will probably dollar to dollar if not more. Let’s say it is SG$10,000. A similar position in HK will be a killer. I would say someone earning RM10,000 in Malaysia will be securing at least HK$60,000 for a similar position there.

Can you see what I am trying to get at?

Most, if not all multinationals consolidate their results using US$ as the common currency. So when they convert RM10,000, SG$10,000 and HK$60,000 into US$, they will realise that Malaysians (those residing in Malaysia) are the cheapest of the lot. So if you are looking to cut cost, where should you attack first?

Like the saying goes… someone has to do to job, unless the company goes bankrupt. So don’t be surprise if suddenly, Malaysians are promoted to regional roles overseeing this part of Asia. After all, it’s quite economical solution. But while we may get to keep our job, that doesn’t mean we will get a raise though…

So if your boss wants to retrench you and if your company has got operations in Singapore and HK, you may want to ask him to promote you instead.

19 comments:

Re. previous comment. Underpaid? Can't be worse than me - drawing a measly pension...but then I'm better off than A LOT of people who are now jobless! Somebody said don't change jobs during these uncertain times as if there's a retrenchment, it will be last in, first out. Was it you, zewt? Can't remember...old liao!!!

Here's the irony... My boss is planning to setup a company in HK and yet, he is thinking of cost-saving measures such as pay-cut, no bonus and the retrenchment.

The HK plan is going on despite the slowdown, where many of the staff have been on the bench.

Anyway, just my two cents. One place I worked for leaked rumours about staff retrenchment but never did it. But the rumours were potent enough that lots of people (both performers and non-performers) resigned, which served the company's purpose of axing staff without any compensation.

then again, you can't replace experience and know-hows with mere comparison of costs. not to say Malaysians are inferior in any sense. just some work are less equal than others...

for instance, if a sales person brings in RM10 mil sales but did it via 200 customers while another also brings in RM10 mil sales but did it via 20 customers, will you sack them or do you ask the accountant to bear with more work load by not recruiting any new helpers?

HUm...DBS is not the only com who going for retrenchment.. heard from my friend that Merrilyn Lynch ( did i spell it correctly ) just finish "chopping" their staff.. going for another round next yr - if i'm not mistaken

zewt, here is one slave who is short of being axed but the fate ain't that good either. Am working for an MNC with operation in Cyberjaya. And we're being acquired by another company. Uncertainties is everywhere, just when we thought we're safe... *sigh*

with mentioned of retrenchment everywhere... it's no wonder people are holding on to their jobs now. i guess i'm a lil different from the others. i have just resigned from my job. am looking for a job now, well.. surprisingly, i have been called for interviews more than 5 times. so as much as the retrenchments are happening, there are still companies who are hiring.. salary wise, i can't really comment though.. ;o)

I think i must have been a bit outta date. Coz after I typed my comment then only did i hear on the news that sg admitted to recession. LOL! Tertinggal zamanMalaysia boleh to anything mentality doesnt help also. I hope the gov will start admitting the problem and not hide it too long. They're still trying to prop up the stock market.